The Mercedes Enterprise (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 45, No. 31, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 4, 1960 Page: 1 of 10
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Mercedes, Texas, Thursday, August 4. 1960
M
PONTIFICAL DECORATIONS to be received by two Mercedes res-
idents are the Order of St. Sylvestor, left, to be received by E. K.
(Gene) O'Shea, and Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice, right, to be received
by Mrs. Jerry Vandersnick. The awards were ordered by the pope
and this is the first time papal honors ever have been received by
local residents.
Two Mercedes Residents First Here
To Receive Special Papal Honors
Two Mercedes residents have
been accorded Papal Honors for the
first time in the history of Mer-
cedes, it was announced this week.
Letters of congratulation on the
reception of the Papal Honors
were received from the Most Rev.
Mariano S. Garriga, Bishop of
Coxpus Christi, E. K. (Gene)
O'Shea was notified that he had
been named a Knight of St. Syl-
vester, and Mrs. Jerry Vanders-
nick that she will receive the
medal "Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice".
They were among 49 Catholics of
the Corpus Christi Diocese to be
honored by His Holiness, Pope
John XXIII.
These marks of honor and dis-
tinction are conferred by the Pope
on men and women of unblemished
character who have in some way
promoted the interests of society,
the Church or the Holy See. Like-
wise, people of other than the
Catholic Faith have often been
rthe recipients of Papal Honors,
Father Edward Kennedy, Cl M. L ,
explained.
The various Papal Orders are the
successors of the Militant Orders of
the Church dating back to. the Cru-
sades, when their members fought
to keep the shrines and places of
the Holy Land from desecration
at the hands of the Mohammedans.
Alow & Then
By EDWIN HARVEY
Our neighbor to the east, Bill
Penn of the La Feria News, re-
ports that all the lots in the Bonitf
' Subdivision of that city have been
sold.
He adds that the area was annex-
ed only seven months ago.
Later in the same news stcry, he
points out that La Feria is just one
of many Valley towns which have
recently annexed adjoining citrus
orchards, cotton fields, and slices
of each other.
Among others are Mission and
McAllen, Pharr, Harlingen,
Brownsville, San Benito and Edin-
burg. Mercedes and Weslaco have
started but not completed annex-
ation programs.
In a later issue, the same paper
reported another new subdivision
just being opened with several
hundred new homes planned.
v * * *
Plans for a large shopping center
and motor hotel in the Western
edge of Weslaco were announced
this past week. To be known as
Wesgate Plaze, it will contain
80, 000 square feet of floor space.
It will be build by Federated
Equipment and Construction Co.
of Austin at a cost estimated in
excess of $1, 000, 000.
A 10-acre tract was purchased
from Clell Solether of Weslaco.
The motor hotel will have 65
units, a dining room, a ballroom
and facilities for club meetings
•and conventions. Construction is
expected to start early this fall.
* * *
Things are beginning to look like
school time again.
A large truck was observed un-
loading new books at the Mer-
cedes high school this week. Main-
tenance crews are making final
repairs so that equipment and
buildings will be in top shape when
the youngsters return to classes.
» Registration will be Friday
morning, Sept. 2, and the first
full day of classes Tuesday, Sept.
6.
All the ancient orders have un-
dergone some changes but all re-
tain much of their ancient glory
and splendor. Thus the Crder of
St. Sylvester was separated in
1905 by Pope St. Pius X from the
Order of the Golden Militia, one
of the oldest and most prized of
Papal Orders.
The order now has three classes
of Knights: 1-Knights Grand Cross
2<:ommanders and 3-_Knights.
The present decoration is a gold
cross of white enamelled surface,
in the center of which is impressed
the image of St Sylvester P. M.
surrounded by a blue enamel cir-
cle bearing the inscription in leb"
ters of gold Sane. Sylvester P. M.
There is a special uniform of the
order which it worn on solemn oc-
casions; and indicative of the
militant character of the order is
the sword with a hilt of mother-
of-pearl ornamented with gold and
worn suspended from a belt.
In addition to membership fear the
Papal Orders there are Other papal
distinctions, among which fiat
in rank is the medal "Pro Ecclesia
et Pontifice" (For Church and Fda-
tiff). This decoration was insti-
tuted by Pope Leo XJII in 1888.
Its object is to reward those who
in a general way deserve well of
the Pope on account of services
done for the Church and its head.
The medal is a cross made octan-
gular in form by fleurs- de- lis fix
ed in the angles of the cross in a
special manner.
The recipients of these Papal
Honors, Mr. O'Shea and Mrs. Van-
dersnick are well known citizens
of Mercedes, active not only in
church affairs but in civic mat-
ters also. Mr. O'Shea served as
mayor of Mercedes from 1954-
1958. And Mrs. Vandersnick be-
sides her personal merits, also has
the distinction of having two
brothers priests and one sister a
nun. One of her brothers, the Rt
Rev. Msgr. Leo T. Maher, is
Chancellor of the Archdiocese of
San Francisco.
The date of their investiture with
these distinctions will be made
known as soon as word is received
from the Bishopfs office in Corpus
Christi and a reception honoring
them is being planned for the
Sunday following the investiture.
Local Men Head
CROP Program
For Hidalgo
Plans were being pushed this
week by the Hidalgo County CROP
committee for collecting goods
for overseas relief, Rev. Wayne
Smith of Mercedes, co-chairman,
announced.
Otho Joyce of Mercedes is co-
chairman.
The plan works like this:
No cash is accepted and sent.
Farmers are invited to donate a
portion of their cotton for the
CROP program. Most gins in the
area are cooperating by accepting
the contributions. A farmer may
authorize his g inner to withhold a
certain number of pounds for the
CROP pool at the time his cotton
is ginned. At given intervals, when
enough cotton is collected, it will
be baled and consigned to CROP
headquarters.
Several churches are designating
August 14 as CROP Sunday. Spe-
cial attention will be given to ex-
plaining the program.
Thousands of victims of harvest
failures, natural castastrophes
and war, followed by hunger, are
literally starving, Rev. Smith
said.
The Christian Rural Overseas
Program is a project of the Church
World Service, a department of
the National Council of Churches,
which includes 33 denominations.
"We sincerely hope that we will
get a good response in this area
to help our fellow man, " Rev.
Smith said.
Former Resident’s
Husband Crash Victim
James A. Patton, husband of a
former Mercedes resident, was
killed July 1 in Beauford, S. C.,
friends here have learned
He was killed when his automo-
bile overturned. He was stationed
with the U. S. Marines at Beau-
ford.
Mrs. Patton, the former Miss
Sharon Mullen, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. L. L. Mullen, now of
Lamesa, is a 1956 graduate of
Mercedes High School.
The Pattons made their home in
San Antonio.
Metropolitan
Area Label Won
For Cameron
The first Valley area has won a
"metropolitan" designation by the
Budget Bureau in Washington.
Rep. Joe Kilgore notified the
Valley Chamber of Commerce
that Camercn County, with a pop-
ulation of over 5Q 000, has been
so designated. Specifically set out
as contained in the area are Har-
lingen, San Benito and Browns-
ville.
Requirements far such a desig-
nation are that two of the cities
whose boundaries are contigious
must have a population of at least
50, 000. Harlingen with 40, 756
and San Benito with 16, 320 meet
that requirement.
This culminates a long battle
by the Valley Chamber which be-
gan in 1946. The area also must
have at least 150 persons per
square mile and 75 per cent of
them must be engaged in non-
ag ricultural occupations.
Such a designation has consider-
ed value both for the area involv-
ed and for the Valley as a whole
through market analyses. This
also is expected to attract more
industry and new business for the
Valley,
The Chamber's campaign at first
was to get the designation for the
entire Valley. Now,, it is seeking
to get Hidalgo County such a des-
ignation.
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MORE NEW PIPE isbeing laid by the contractor in the second urban renewal area^otect' TtafacSon
shotwas made on Virginia near Hwy. 83 where the new sanitary seweMine was beinc Uid ihU week
Thrs ts part of a $234.000 project being financed entirely wit "federal granB? 8
New First National Bank Building
Expected To Be Finished By April
DIRECTOR QUITS;
BAND PRACTICE
IS POSTPONED
Band practice which was sched-
uled to have begun Thursday night
has been postponed indefinitely
because of the resignation of the
director, Supt. S. F. Cemosek
announced this week.
He said he received a telegram
t ;r the week end from Richard
Crain stating that he wished to
tender his resignation.
Mr. Crain had been director of
tire local bands for some three and
one-half years.
Friends said they understood
Mr, Crain had accepted a posi-
tion as junior high band director
at Temple.
Band members will be notified
when a new director is employed
and summer practice is to start,
Mr. Cemosek said.
Kiwanians\To Hear
Congo Missionary
B. B. Blount, Presbyterian In-
dustrial Missionary to the Congo
who has just been airlifted to safe-
ty, will be speaker at the Mer-
cedes Kiwanis Club luncheon
Thursday.
The meeting will be at The El
Sombrero, and guests are being
invited, according to Floyd Lang-
ford, program chairman for the
day.
Mr. Blount and his wife, who is
the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E.
L Park, only recently arrived in
the U. S. after a hop-skip-and-
jump flight from the strife-ridden
African state.
Mercedes Tiger 1960 Football Schedule
Sept. 2.
Edcouch-Elsa
Here
9-
Donna
There
16
Raymondville
Here
23,
Edinburg
There
30
Open Date
Oct. 7
•Rio Grande City
There
4
Open Date
21
•Pharr-San Juan-Alamo
Here
28
•Mission
There
Nov. 4
•Falfurrias
Here
11
•Weslaco
There
18
•San Benito
Here
Savings Firms Denied
permits For Branches
The state banking commission
has denied requests of two savings
and loan firms to establish Valley
branches.
Brownsville Savings and Loan had
applied for a branch in Weslaco
and Jefferson Savings and Loan
of McAllen had asked for a branch
in Mission.
The commission has not ruled
on an application of a group of
mid- Valley men to establish a
new loan firm to be known as "Wet*
laco Savings and Loan Association
in Weslaco. A hearing has been
held and a decision is expected by
Aug. 26.
High School Sets Dates For Students
To Obtain Enrollment Schedule
Schedule forhiqh school students
to pick up their enrollment sched-
ules for the coming year was re-
leased this week’by Principal N.
K. Fitzgerald.
The schedules will not be mail-
ed directly to the students as last
year, he pointed out. They should
be obtained by the student from
the principal's office, according
to the following schedule!
Monday, August 15, 8:00-12:00
noon, Seniors.
Monday, August 15, 1:00-5:00
p. m., Juniors.
Tuesday, Av jstl6, 8:00-12:00
noon, Sophomores.
Tuesday, August 16, 1:00-5:00
p. m., Freshmen.
Students desiring to discuss sched-
ule changes may do so at the time
the schedule is received. Students
entering school here for the first
time should report to the High
School for registration according
to the schedule listed above.
All students will be issued an
Valley Temperatures
July 27
July 28
July 29
July 30
Xjaly 31
Aug. 1
Aug. 2
High
Low Prec.
101
74
103
72
103
72
103
75
102
78
100
76
96
74
identification card this year at
the time of registration. This card
will entitle the student to purchase
tickets to school functions at stu-
dent prices.
Textbooks and lockers also will
be issued at the time the student
receives his schedule for this
school year.
Church Speaker
A Presbyterian Industrial Mis-
sionarywhohas just arrived in the
U. S. from strife-ridden Belgian
will conduct the 11 a. m. services
at the First Presbyterian Church
here Sunday.
He is B. B. Blount, son- in- law
of Mr. and Mrs. E. L Park of
Mercedes.
The Blounts and their two chil-
dren recently arrived in Houston,
their home, after fleeing from
Africa on orders of the U. S. con-
sul.
Mr. Blount is expected to tell of
his first hand experiences with the
natives, the uprising after inde-
pendence, and other related
events.
Rev. B. W. Downing is pastor
of the local church.
Construction of the new First
National Bank Building at Texas
and Hwy. 83 is expected to begin
within a few weeks, it was indi-
cated this week.
In a special brochure, officers
of the bank reported to patrons of
the bank on the status of plans and
announced that they hoped to have
their new home completed by
April of 1961.
Design of the new building is in
the modem trent, with a low,
tropical profile.
Soft, background music will be
provided and there will be plenty
of comfortable seating for patrons.
There also will be a meeting room
for public gatherings.
In the center of the lobby will
be bronze sculpture--described as
a real showpiece, with crystal
clear water trickling over it and
into a small pool.
All furniture of the bank will
be late modern styling with com-
fort the main feature.
The bookkeeping department
will be in a separate room to
keep the noise of the machines
from the main bank lobby.
Each officer will have sliding
doors in front of his office which
may be closed to provide com-
plete privacy in discussing impor-
tant transactions. There will be
individual "coupon booths" for
customers who want to open their
safety deposit boxes. Other fea-
tures will include a public tele-
phone, a public drinking fountain,
courtesy scales and a large bulle-
tin board on which may be posted
notices of public meetings.
A new employee is introduced
in the brochure. He is Antonio C.
Ortega, He is gaining experience
in all phases of the banking busi-
ness, and will be placed in charge
of the personal loan department
when the new building is occupied.
Ortega is a graduate of Mexico
City College and was employed
by the Texas Liquor Control Board.
Titled Volume 1, Number 1 of
Mercedes Progress (to be issued
semi-annually by the bank) the
brochure c<y features the city's
long-range downtown improve-
ment program both on the front
cover and inside tire four-page
foler.
Plans for a modem shopping
center along Texas Avti, removal
of vacant buildings and unique
off-street parking lots are des-
cribed as "an imaginative plan
for converting the downtown busi-
ness district into a modern shop-
ping center. "
The brochure points out that
Moody Re-Employed
By Police Department
Philip R. Moody has been re-
employed by the Mercedes Police
Department, Chief Claudio Cas-
taneda said Wednesday.
Moody worked for the department
for some 12 years. He resigned
last year to do ranch work. How-
ever, he has returned to Mercedes
and began his new duties Monday,
Castaneda said.
Moody replaces Ruben Cham-
pion who resigned recently.
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Christian
Rural
Overseas
Program
-■rh*
National CROP Office
P. O. Box 227
Elkhart, Indiana
many cities have urban renewal
programs, but that none in this
population bracket is so bold, so
far-reaching, s6 imaginative, so
thoroughly significant as this.
Texas Avenue would be closed
and made into an attractive mall.
Conventional sidewalks would be
replaced with covered walkways.
Outline of the plan, the steps
which have been taken and what
remains to put it into actual oper-
ation is described.
0. J. 'Red' Gunn
Dies In Hospital;
Funeral Here
C. J. "Red" Gunn, 60, a form-
er Mercedes resident, died Mon-
day afternoon in the Veterans Hos-
pital at Kerrville.
Funeral services were held at 4
p. m. Wednesday at Stotler
Chapel. Rev. C. W. Sumerlin of
the First Baptist Church officiated,
assisted by Rev. George Wheeler
of the First Christian Church.
Burial was in Ebony Grove Cem-
etery here.
Pallbearers were Keith Zook and
Jack Speer of Corpus Christi, Ray
Miller and Hans Renfro of Mc-
Allen, WalterMoehrig of San An-
tonio and Gordon Leonard of Mer-
cedes.
Bom in Bartlett, Texas, Mr.
Gunn lived in Mercedes for 17
years where he operated The El
Sombrero Restaurant. For some
11 years he lived in McAllen and
moved to Corpus Christi ’about
five years ago. He operated an
office equipment store and was
president of the Office Machine
Dealers Association for the Gulf
Coast Area. He was a member of
the Texas Cffice Machine Dealers
Association.
He is survived by his wife, Ruth,
of Corpus Christi; and five broth-
2rs, Zollie of Plainview, New
Jersey; Vernon of Holland, Texas;
Homer of Temple, Texas; Orbry
of SattDiego, California; P. C. of
Arcabia, Texas; and one sister,
M**» Velma Wilkins of Beaumont,
Texas.
Cyclist Injured
In Auto Mishap
An 11-year-old youngster was
still under observation in Johnston
Clinic Wednesday after being in
jured in a bicycle-automobile
collision.
He is Heriberto Garza of 430 S.
Colorado. He suffered minor head
injuries but the exact extent had
not been determined at noon Wed-
nesday, attendants said.
Police Chief Claudio Castaneda
said the Garza boy was riding his
bike South on Vermont and was
crossing Hwy. 83. He was Rob-
ert Milton Bazar of 1113 S. Illi-
nois was driving east on the high-
way in a 1955 pickup. #They col-
lided and the cyclist was knocked
several^feet off his bike.
Investigation of the accident was
not complete Wednesday.
Mercedes Boy Wins
Valley Tennis Title,
Will Go To State
Richard Herzog of Mercedes will
goto the state tourney of the Tex-
as Amateur' Athletic Federation
in Waco Aug. 11 through 14
as winner of the Valley finals
played in Harlingen last week.
Young Herzog defeated John
Westfall of Harlingen in a tennis
match that lasted some three
hours in the 15 and under boys
bracket.
The score in the singles final
match was 6-1, 11-3, 6-2.
He also was a member of the
winning doublesteam in the same
division with George Schulgen
of Santa Rosa. They defeated John
Westfall and Graff 6-3, 6-4.
They also plan to enter the
doubles event at Waco.
BAND MEMBERS MEET
Members of the Mercedes High
School band will meet at 7:30
p. m. Thursday to discuss the pro-
posed trip to Kerrville, it was re-
ported Wednesday.
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Harvey, J. Edwin. The Mercedes Enterprise (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 45, No. 31, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 4, 1960, newspaper, August 4, 1960; Mercedes, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1091048/m1/1/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Library.